To what extent is situation ethics a good ethical theory for moral decision making?

Created by: 14downsamber
Created on: 06-08-19 15:32


	To what extent is situation ethics a good ethical theory for moral decision making?
	Advantages FOR: RELATIVE THEORY (1 OF FLETCHER'S PRINCIPLES): Theory isnt legalistic - flexible. takes all circumstances into account, not universally enforced laws. absolutes like 'do not steal' become relative to love - if love demands you to steal for hunger, you steal - "It relativises the absolute, it doesnt absolute the relative." Unlike natural law everyone involved benefits. Eg - if a women needed/wanted an abortion she would be allowed one because its most loving - the theory isnt restricted by religious doctrines or develops with modern technology advances. BUT - Barclay: laws shouldn't be completely abandoned -too optimistic, would only work if we were all Jesus "If all men were angels". RESOLVES MORAL DILEMMAS: When there are 2 conflicting duties, eg - telling the truth and saving someones life. SE understandings lying may produce the most loving outcome. "Sometime you have to push aside your principles and do the right thing." - Fletcher. Whereas kantian ethics would make you follow your duty regardless of consequences. SE moves with modern advances, Bishop J Robinson called it "an ethic for humanity coming of age." BUT - Where do some situations start and end? How far do we have to calculate for?	Disadvantages AGAINST: CONCEPT OF AGAPE IS TOO VAGUE: Subjective - personal opinion - wont all agree. How are we meant to know what to do when it changes every time? Cannot all reason the best outcome. Can people get away with anything in the name of love? - is theft and lying okay but adultery too far? McQuarrie: SE is too individualistic - cannot be applied to the whole of society UNDERMINES THE BIBLE AND CHURCH: 10 commandments not the 10 suggestions - made by God to guide humans on earth. individuals acting on their own isolates the church and thousands of years worth of teachings. how can we be trusted to make better decisions in the spare of the moment? Pope Pius banned SE being discusses as the theory doesn't follow Christian teachings. BUT - SE fits with Jesus' teachings - he healed people on the sabbath "Sabbath was made for man, man wasnt made for sabbath."
	Evaluation modern - more appealing to people of no faithconcept of agape to vague - cannot all agree - allows terrible acts to occur

To what extent is situation ethics a good ethical theory for moral decision making?

Advantages

FOR:
RELATIVE THEORY (1 OF FLETCHER'S PRINCIPLES): Theory isnt legalistic - flexible. takes all circumstances into account, not universally enforced laws. absolutes like 'do not steal' become relative to love - if love demands you to steal for hunger, you steal - "It relativises the absolute, it doesnt absolute the relative." Unlike natural law everyone involved benefits. Eg - if a women needed/wanted an abortion she would be allowed one because its most loving - the theory isnt restricted by religious doctrines or develops with modern technology advances. BUT - Barclay: laws shouldn't be completely abandoned -too optimistic, would only work if we were all Jesus "If all men were angels".
RESOLVES MORAL DILEMMAS: When there are 2 conflicting duties, eg - telling the truth and saving someones life. SE understandings lying may produce the most loving outcome. "Sometime you have to push aside your principles and do the right thing." - Fletcher. Whereas kantian ethics would make you follow your duty regardless of consequences. SE moves with modern advances, Bishop J Robinson called it "an ethic for humanity coming of age." BUT - Where do some situations start and end? How far do we have to calculate for?

Disadvantages

AGAINST:
CONCEPT OF AGAPE IS TOO VAGUE: Subjective - personal opinion - wont all agree. How are we meant to know what to do when it changes every time? Cannot all reason the best outcome. Can people get away with anything in the name of love? - is theft and lying okay but adultery too far? McQuarrie: SE is too individualistic - cannot be applied to the whole of society
UNDERMINES THE BIBLE AND CHURCH: 10 commandments not the 10 suggestions - made by God to guide humans on earth. individuals acting on their own isolates the church and thousands of years worth of teachings. how can we be trusted to make better decisions in the spare of the moment? Pope Pius banned SE being discusses as the theory doesn't follow Christian teachings. BUT - SE fits with Jesus' teachings - he healed people on the sabbath "Sabbath was made for man, man wasnt made for sabbath."

Evaluation

modern - more appealing to people of no faithconcept of agape to vague - cannot all agree - allows terrible acts to occur

Comments

EvelineHoffman

Report Fri 28th May, 2021 @ 14:28

Great materials. But these materials are not for the younger generation. They do not take such a text carefully. In order for the younger generation to understand the basics of ethics, it is necessary to speak with them in their language. For example, here's an essay on types of ethics https://writingbros.com/essay-examples/ethics/ for mellenials and their kids. In our modern time. Ethics has changed as such. And now new rules of social discourse have come into play.

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To what extent is situation ethics a good ethical theory for moral decision making?